# The Duchess — Don Quixote character guide > The Duchess in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0091-part-ii-xxxi ## Snapshot The Duke's sharp-witted wife, she designs the cruelest and most inventive deceptions, treating Don Quixote's madness as raw material for her amusement. ## Who they are In the ducal castle the Duchess is the true author of the games, inventing enchantments, distressed duennas, and the cat-and-bell prank that leaves Don Quixote wounded in bed for five days. She is delighted by his sincerity even as she exploits it, and her affection for the sport is inseparable from a certain coldness about the pain it causes. She matters because she embodies the novel's uncomfortable question about readers who laugh at the madman they have invited inside. ## Relationships ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _professional_ The Duchess manipulates Sancho as part of her elaborate pranks, treating him as a comic servant. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _social_ The Duchess plays elaborate tricks on Don Quixote, pretending to honor his chivalry while mocking him. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _professional_ The Duchess manipulates Sancho as part of her elaborate pranks, treating him as a comic servant. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _social_ The Duchess plays elaborate tricks on Don Quixote, pretending to honor his chivalry while mocking him. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _professional_ The Duchess manipulates Sancho as part of her elaborate pranks, treating him as a comic servant. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _social_ The Duchess plays elaborate tricks on Don Quixote, pretending to honor his chivalry while mocking him. ## In the story ### [Of Don Quixote’s adventure with a fair huntress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx) Fair huntress on a white palfrey with a hawk; recognizes Don Quixote from the printed history; invites the pair to her estate. ### [XXXI Which treats of many and great matters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi) Hosts Don Quixote and Sancho; expresses fondness for Sancho; asks about Dulcinea; enjoys the churchman's irritation. ### [Of the reply Don Quixote gave his censurer, with other incidents, grave and droll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii) Questions Dulcinea's reality and lineage; engages in banter with Don Quixote. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiii) The duchess engages Sancho in conversation, probing his role in the Dulcinea enchantment and testing his suitability for governorship, while planning further jokes on Don Quixote. ### [XXXIV Which relates how they learned the way in which they were to disenchant the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso, which is one of the rarest adventures in this book.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiv) Takes part in the hunt and enjoys Sancho's proverbs and the planned deception. ### [Wherein is continued the instruction given to Don Quixote touching the disenchantment of Dulcinea, together with other marvellous incidents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv) Encourages Sancho to show courage and gratitude to Don Quixote, urging him to consent to the penance. ### [Wherein is related the strange and undreamt-of adventure of the distressed Duenna, alias the countess Trifaldi, together with a letter which Sancho Panza wrote to his wife, Teresa Panza.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvi) Questions Sancho about his penance, advises him on proper scourging, and reads his letter to Teresa. ### [Wherein is continued the notable adventure of the distressed Duenna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvii) Engages in the duenna dispute and asks the duke about proper reception for the countess. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxviii) Receives the Countess Trifaldi with great urbanity alongside the duke. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxix) The Duchess is delighted by Sancho's words and joins the Duke in showing amazement at the duennas' appearance. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xl) Encourages Sancho to participate in the adventure. ### [Of the arrival of Clavileño and the end of this protracted adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xli) Participates in the hoax, questions Sancho about his journey, and pretends to be amazed. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlii) Participates in the plan to make the governorship seem real. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xliv) Amused by Don Quixote's counsels, discusses Clavileño with him, and later retires. ### [Of how the great Sancho Panza took possession of his island, and of how he made a beginning in governing.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlv) Implied as part of the duke's household involved in the burlesque governance. ### [Of the terrible bell and cat fright that Don Quixote got in the course of the enamoured Altisidora's wooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvi) Collaborates with the duke on the trick and is grieved by its outcome. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvii) Mentioned by Sancho in his request to send regards and a letter to his wife. ### [Of what befell Don Quixote with Doña Rodriguez, the duchess’s Duenna, together with other occurrences worthy of record and eternal remembrance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlviii) Referenced as the mistress of Doña Rodriguez and the duenna's employer. ### [Of what happened Sancho in making the round of his island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlix) Implied as part of the duke's household orchestrating Sancho's governance. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-l) Sends a letter and coral beads to Teresa; praises Sancho's governance. ### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-li) Sent a present to Teresa Panza, acknowledged in Sancho's letter. ### [Wherein is related the adventure of the second distressed or afflicted Duenna, otherwise called Doña Rodriguez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lii) Receives the page and letters from Teresa Panza, and listens to the page's account of his journey. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-liv) Participates in the scheme to stage the joust for Don Quixote. ### [Of what befell Sancho on the road, and other things that cannot be surpassed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lv) Helps rescue Sancho and embraces him upon his return. ### [Of the prodigious and unparalleled battle that took place between Don Quixote of La Mancha and the Lackey Tosilos in defence of the daughter of Doña Rodriguez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lvi) Present in the gallery, amused by the events along with the duke. ### [LVII Which treats of how Don Quixote took leave of the duke, and of what followed with the witty and impudent Altisidora, one of the duchess’s damsels.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lvii) Gives Sancho his wife's letters; is amazed at Altisidora's boldness; bids Don Quixote farewell and promises to chastise Altisidora. ### [LXII Which deals with the adventure of the enchanted head, together with other trivial matters which cannot be left untold.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxii) Mentioned in the context of Sancho's previous government. ### [Which treats of what he who reads will see, or what he who has it read to him will hear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxvi) Mentioned as still at the castle with the duke. ### [Chapter LXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxix) Participates in the staged spectacle; allows Sancho to keep the robe and mitre as souvenirs. ### [LXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxx) Participates in the joke, questioning Don Quixote about Altisidora and agreeing to keep the damsel occupied with needlework. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/the_duchess - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters